JanChurchill.com
 |
| click to enlarge |
FROM DELAWARE TO EVERYWHERE
New Castle Army Air Base and New Castle County Airport by Jan Churchill
Hard Cover, 8 ½ x 11, 192 pages, over 250 illustrations. ISBN: 13:978-0-615-15315-5 Order
This profusely illustrated book, written by a pilot, describes the aviation history of the New Castle County Airport, from its beginnings, up to present times.
FROM DELAWARE TO EVERYWHERE was named a 2008 National winner in the annual National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest. Churchill's book received second place for non-fiction/history. Churchill was awarded First Place in Delaware for non-fiction/history in 2007. The National Contest was open only to first place winners in the state contests across the U.S.
This book tells of the construction of the New Castle Army Air Base at the beginning of World War II when the Air Transport Command was based at New Castle. The 2nd Ferrying Group flew fighters and bombers from New Castle to overseas locations. As the war progressed, the Air Corps called its transport mission, Crescent Caravan, as it flew across the globe to China.
The Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) was the first group of women to fly for the American military. They began their flying at New Castle Army Air Base in 1942. Eventually the group expanded all over the U.S. and became known as WASPs in August 1943. This books tells how the women based at New Castle started to fly a B-17 heavy bomber to England, but were halted by General H.H. Arnold.
The book describes the use of the airport after World War II. Airlines were based at New Castle, along with Flight Schools and Corporate aviation. The military continued its presence after World War II with the Delaware Air National Guard operating fighters and then transports, and the Delaware Army National Guard operating helicopters.
Air races, air shows, and other flying events are described. The author flew in the All Woman Transcontinental Air Race (Powder Puff Derby) that terminated at New Castle in 1976. The book includes a day-to-day description of that race.
The military has had a large presence at the airport from World War II to date. The book describes their major change from fighter aircraft to a transport role. The Delaware Air National Guard is an important part of the story.
There are many first person interviews in the book which bring history alive. The illustrations add to the story and include many aerial views. Order
The author received a grant from The Delaware Heritage Commission for this history book.
The book is available from the author: www.janchurchill.com or 302-325-2718 ($29.95 plus $5.05 s & h = $35.00) Order
